Trying to find Joy in the Everyday Moments

May 21, 2014

The Joy of the Garden (#joyeveryday)

It's been a few days since I started out in my quest to find the joy in the everyday moments, and so far I have discovered a couple of things. First, it can be very difficult to notice these little things because you are so used to only documenting the "big stuff" that you miss the little things or feel they aren't worth noting. And the second is that because of the first it is very important to take the time to try and find joy in the small things because it shouldn't be that difficult!

If you follow me on instagram or twitter you may have noticed me already making an effort to mark these small moments as they happen (photos of a toddler with a vacuum cleaner, anyone?) but as I wish to be really intentional in seeking these moments of joy I also wish to take the time to reflect on them and share them on the blog. The posts may not always be what I would previously have considered "blogworthy" because they may only make sense to me. But one thing I have also learned lately is that it's the "little things" that we all know and recognise that bring us together.

Today it was the simple pleasure of being able to go out into the garden, feel a bit of sunshine, and see everything flourishing. Who doesn't feel joy when they see something they have planted grow? Especially when some of those things will eventually feed and nourish your family! Our tomato seedlings unfortunately died, but our potatoes, onions, garlic and carrots are all doing well...

...as are the strawberries!

To me this isn't exactly an "everyday moment" as our garden is constantly changing. But whereas I normally would have stepped out, walked past them, and gone about my many tasks without a single thought I would have missed the lovely feeling that comes from taking some time out to appreciate the amazing growth and development going on all around me.

As someone who spends an awful lot of time and energy on a wide variety of projects, it's pretty nice to have something flourish with very little effort on my behalf. So long as they are watered and the weather stays nice they do well. Trusting nature to do what it does best is quite a wonderful feeling and something I need to do more in other areas of my life too.

I also find it hugely symbolic. New things are happening all around us, whether we put energy into them or not. Sometimes we are amazed by the changes, sometimes we are amused (or bemused) by them - like how the feverfew, aquilegia and chives have spread right across the garden within such a short amount of time, regardless of our attempts to plan where they should be. I absolutely love the rather "wild" feel about and it a great lesson for me in accepting that sometimes you just have to let things happen as they will.

But it's also symbolic of how a little bit of time and intention, along with a smidgen of positivity can take something that looks like a lost cause and turn it into something truly beautiful. The tree above was found shoved at the back of a garden centre, half dead and looking extremely pitiful. We brought it home, planted it in the garden and let it grow. And now look at it! This, more than anything, brings me joy and reminds me that nothing is beyond hope.

All in all today was a very good day for finding joy and I am so glad that I decided to try and do this more often.